Cartridge feed system



oct. 1o', 1961 c. H. MQRSE am CARTRIDGE FEED SYSTEM Filed Dec. 8, 1959 w B Y 3 Sheets-Sheet l Oct. 10, 1961 c. H. MORSE ErAL 3,003,274

CARTRIDGE FEED SYSTEM y Filed Dec. 8., 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTO C//LES h. 0 E ffm/2 w. yam/ Oct. 10, 1961 Filed Dec. 8, 1959 c. H. MORSE ETAL 3,003,274

CARTRIDGE FEED SYSTEM 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 ejected by engagement of the left hand portion of the rim against the ejector blade 43 (see FIG. 8) projecting into the receiver. Shortly after ejection of the tired case, the front edge of the breech bolt-Will pass to the rear of the semi-annular shoulder 42, releasing the cartridge B from any further restraint and permitting it to be urged ,forward by the force exerted by the magazine spring 44 and follower 31 acting through the cartridge C. FIG. 3 shows the parts in position just prior to the release of the cartridge B with the cartridge' stop 35 raised into the cartridge feed passage in position to intercept the rim of the cartridge C. The sudden release of the cartridge B as the bolt is retracted permits that cartridge to be snapped forwardly by the magazine spring. As a result, and as shown in FIG. 4, the cartridge B will bey projected forwardly to at least start the bullet of the cartridge B in the chamber of the barrel, it being recalled that the bullet feed ramp 34 and the edges 41 of the cartridge hfeed insert accurately guide the cartridge -in that direction. :4V1 A bullet feed guide 4S is pivotally secured to the breech bolt and entends forwardly over the rear portion of the barrel to provide a ramp surface 46 terminating closely adjacent the mouth of the barrel chamber. A bullet feed guide spring 47 is mounted in the receiver cover 48 and lies upon the bullet feed guide to yieldingly ,hold it down on the barrel ramp. As best seen by the dotted line position of a cartridge B1 in FIG. 4, if due to any unusual circumstance the cartridge B tends to be released from the magazine bullet high the bullet portion will be engaged by a formed depression 49 in the bullet feed guide and deected downwardly to enter the chamber. Similarly, -the dotted line position B2 shows a cartridge which for some reason has not been snapped ,clear into the chamber and lies upon the bullet feed ramp and ycartridge feed insert in position to be pushedk into .the chamber by the bolt.

' In any case, a cartridge being released from the magazine is surrounded on three sides by (1) the bullet ramp "34 and cartridge feed insert 40; (2) the longitudinally extending ejector blade 43; and (3) by the overlying bullet feed guide 4S. As a result of the close control maintained, the cartridges have virtually no opportunity to go any place but properly into the chamber.

l FIG. 5 carries the sequence of operations one step further and shows the cartridge B nearly seated in the chamber with the cartridge stop 35 just cammed down by the face 2a of the bolt to`release the cartridge C into the cartridge feed insert 40 where it comes to rest trapped between the lower face of the bolt and the semi-annular shoulder 42 on the rear end of the cartridge feed insert. Obviously the cycle described can be repeated for any number of cartridges delivered by the tubular magazine and when the last of such cartridges has been delivered into the cartridge feed insert as shown in FIG. 5, the mag azine follower iteelf supplies the necessary feeding thrust and is itself stopped by the cartridge stop.

We claim: v Y 1. In a repeating firearm having a barrel, a receiver, a breech bolt longitudinally reciprocable in said receiver, a tubular magazine extending from a position beneath said breech bolt,\a spring urged follower in said maga- 'zine' urging cartridges therein to a position beneath said 'breech bolt, a cartridge feed insert defining forwardly and ,upwardly inclined elevator surfaces-to elevate 'acartridge as it passestherethrough, a forwardly and upwardly in; clined bullet feed ramp, and cartridge stop means to control the release of cartridges from said magazine, the im# provement comprising a bullet feed guide pivotally attached to the breech bolt and extending forwardly therefrom over the top surface of the barrel to form a reciprocating closure of the upper side of the space between the breech bolt and the barrel. v A 2.The combination described in claim l, the upper face of said barrel being cut away to define a attened ramp 4engaged by said reciprocating bullet feed guide.

3. The combination described in claim 2, including spring means exerting a yielding pressure tending to maintain said bullet feed guide in close engagement with said flattened ramp on the barrel.

'I References Cited in the tile of this patent UNTTED STATES PATENTS Crittenden et al Feb. 25, 1958 

